Strip affixing device



,F. J. CONNOLLY STRIP AFFIXING DEVICE Filed Nov. 19, 1942 Aug. 29, 1944.

Patented Aug. 29, 1 944 UNITED STATES PATENT oF-FicE ApplicationNovember 19, 1942, Serial No. 466, 229 In Great Britain November 20,1941 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements co'nnected with devices foraflixing tape, ribbon and like strips and is concerned with portablehand devices for afixin'g strip material such as gummed paper strip oradhesive tape to the surfaces of articles such as parcels.

One object of the present invention is to enable the strip of materialto be passed into an aflixing device Without danger of jamming ortearing. Another object is to adapt the portable hand devices inquestion so that by a ready interchange of parts they can be used forthe ap plication of strips of different widths, whereas at present aseparate device complete in itself is necessary for each width of stripto be applied. Another object is to provide a'liquid' reservoir of moreconvenient shape and dimensions and better adapted for manipulation thanthose heretofore provided. Yet another object is toprovide for the moreconvenient and efi'lcient hand operation of pivotally mounted afiixingmeans and severing mean-s mounted at the delivery end of the appliance.

With portable hand devices for afiixing a strip' taken from a roll, thestrip may easily become curled, coiled or cockled in its passage betweenthe reel and the hand device, particularly if the latter is being Workedaround the several sides of a package. The'result is that as such curledstrip arrives at the intake guides of known devices, which guides areadapted'for receiving the strip in a flat condition, the curled strip isapt to jam, catch or tear in the inlet thereby involving a loss of timeand material. Moreover, a gummed paper strip may become gummy or tackyin passing to the device, or when coming into contact with guide partsof the device and" an adhesiv tape may be tacky and sticky as it comesfrom a reel or roll. For'this reason it is desirable that the gummy ortacky surface of a strip or tape should not come into contact with partsof the device until such strip arrives at the point where it is tobeaffixed, or where it is to be moistened preparatory to being affixed.The present invention provides means for enabling such undesirablecontact to be avoided.

According tothis invention, a guide means comprising a curvedsurface is"provided at the" entry of the strip or tape into the afiixing device,the action of this guide means being to impart a transverse curvature tothe strip'or tape sliding through it. The guide meansmay be a length oftube of circular cross'section and presenting a smooth bore, thediameter of the tube being less than the width-of the stripor tape to"strip of four inches in width, which means that" be dealt with. A stripor tape threaded through such tube acquires a transversely bent formtherein. Thus, in cross-section it may appear as a segment of a circle,for example a semicircle, or it may even be bent into substantial-1ycircular form. When gummed strip or adhesive tape is passed into thedevice, the surface hear: ing the gum or adhesive is on the inner sideof the bend and with gummed paper strip there is a natural tendencyfavouring the bending or curling of the strip this ma ner. I

A strip or tape entered through this: guide means is passed to theaffixing means disposed at a suitable distance ahead, As thestrip isapplied and is consequently drawnthrough the guide means, it isimmaterial to whateiitent it may have become curled or co'il'edin itspassage from the reel to the affixing device for in any condition it isfound to pass smoothly easily into the guide m ans and longitudinally v,to straighten itself out from any tanglin'g that may have occurred.-Having passed through theguid ing means, the strip giradually fiatten'sout tra'n's' versely as it approaches the a'fiiXin-g means and its gummyor tacky surfaee'makes n contact with any part of the device until theam ne means are reached. The feedis reliably smooth, unchecked anduninterrupted In hand-operated affi'xing' devices, the width of thedevices is usually a little more than" that of the strip or tape in use.If it'- is d-esired to employ a wide strip, for example, mar -series inwidth, the Width of the afilxing' d vice becomes uncomfortably large, orimpossible,- for grasping by the hand. With theimproved guiding means ofthis invention however, a tube of much less than four inches in'diameter can be used for a that portion of the aflixing device whereonthe tube is mounted can be of greatly reduced width withdrawal'of thestripor tape, for without such" means the flat sliding strip couldeasilybe unin tentionall-yretracted. Such auxiliary means are dispensed withbythe present invention fonthe transverse spreadingor} flattening outofthestrip at each end of the guide means, providesijiistj that amount ofresistance which-isrequiredjor preventing unintentional retraction ofthestripi' Further, according to the presentinvention,"

the appliance is adapted for the ready inter'-' changeable attachment ofnozzle heads of different width, each having its own appropriate fixingmeans, whereby when a strip of different width is to be afiixed, allthat is required is to substitute 'an appropriate nozzle head andafiixing means of a different width from that previously in use. Thereservoir to which the nozzle head is attached is advantageously oftubular or cylindrical form making ityery convenient for grasping by thehand and such reservoir preferably contains a flexible bag forcontaining the liquid requiring to be fed to the wick or absorbentmaterial in the nozzle head. The afiixing means which is pivotallymounted on the nozzle head is provided with an Operating lever. whichextends beneath the reservoir so that it can be operated by fingers ofthe hand grasping the reservoir. By this arrangement, the afiixing meansis very much more conveniently and surely operated as compared withaffixing means requiring to be operated by a finger extended forwardlyfrom the hand grasping the device.

In order to enable the invention to be readily understood, reference ismade to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional elevation of oneconstruction of aflixing appliance embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a plan of the device illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the appliance as seen from the left hand sideof Figure 2.

Figure 3a is a cross section, to a smaller scale than Figure 3,illustrating a modification.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic elevation of the rear end portion of anafiixing appliance with a modified form of strip-guiding means, thepassage of a curled strip into and through the guiding means beingindicated.

Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a cross-section of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a

is a cylindrical casing enclosing a water reser voir as hereinafterdescribed and serving as a handle for holding the appliance. b is anozzle head detachably connected with'the cylindrical casing a andcontaining a wick c for wetting the strip to be afiixed. d is a leverpivotally mounted. on the nozzle head b and carrying the strip pressingand severing means hereinafter described, and e is a cylindrical ortubular guide for the strip to be affixed.

- As seen in Figure 1, the left hand end of the casing a is closed by adisc f formed centrally, on its outer side with a screw threaded spigotand on its inner side with a screw threaded stub F. A small duct 7passes through the spigot ,f and stub f and terminates within the stubat a seating-for the end of a valve rod g. Radial ports f in the stub fcommunicate with the central bore in which the valve rod g slidablyfits. A cylindrical water bag 12. of rubber or waterproof material hasits inner end secured water-tightly against the disc 1 by means of awasher 7' and a nut 7 screwed On to the stub f The'outer end of thecylindrical casing 11 is closed by a ring k which is screw threaded toreceive a screw plug Z. The ring is formed with a shoulder to seat theout-turned end of the bag It and such seating may be effected by awasher ring I forced against the said out-turned end by the screwing inof the plug Z. A non-return valve m in the plug 1 permits air to enterthe bag it but prevents water escaping from the bag. The valve rod 9extends through a central perforation in the plug Z and its end portionis screw threaded to receive a milled nut n. A compression spring 0operating between the plug Z and an abutment g on the rod g, normallyholds the valve shaped end of such rod hard against its seating in thestub f As will be apparent, the valve end of the rod 9 can be withdrawntemporarily from its seating and so as to uncover the ports I by pullingthe rod 9/ against the resistance of the spring 0 and using the nut n asa finger grip. Or, the said withdrawal and valve opening can be effectedin a graduated and lasting manner by turning the nut n.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the nozzle head b,

L which is of so-called shoe-form in the section F in Figure 1, has aflattened toe portion of the width of the wick c which is of the samewidth I as the strip to be affixed. The heel portion of the nozzle headis of reduced width and of somewhat cylindrical form. This end of thenozzle head is closed by an annulus 12 which is internally screwthreaded for enabling the nozzle head to be detachably connected withthe casing 11 by screwing on to the spigot P. The wick 0 may be coiledaround a transverse pin p extending through the side walls of the nozzlehead. The uncoiled portion of the wick is taken along the flat soleportion of the nozzle head I) and passed through the slot or orifice ofthe latter and so as to extend a little beyond such orifice as shown inFigures 1 and 2. Thus, the wick can be pulled out to a desired extent orto make up for wear. Space within the nozzle head, which otherwise wouldremain unoccupied, may be filled with an absorbent such as cotton wool,as indicated in Figure 1.

The transverse pin 11 in the nozzle head may have its end portionsadapted to serve as pivots for arms or prongs of the lever 11. The saidarms or prongs at one end are brought together and bent to form a handle(1 which extends beneath the cylindrical casinga in such manner that thehandle d can be pressed upwards by fingers of a hand grasping the saidcasing. At their outer end, the arms of the lever d support between themtwo revoluble transverse rollers r r These latter are spaced apart inthe longitudinal direction, the roller 1 coming above the protrudingportion of the wick c and the roller 1' being in advance of the tip ofthe wick. A cross bar d may connect the arms at the free end and mayserve as a support for a cutter q which may be of the razor edgevariety, or of the serrated Variety and Which may be of flat formationas shown in Figure 2 ormay be of a slightly curved formation tofacilitate cutting. In Figure 2, the cutter q is shown set atright-angles to the longitudinal axis of the appliance but it may, withadvantage, be set slightly askew of the rightangled position.

The strip guiding means e is of tubular or cylindrical formation and, inthe example illustrated, it surrounds the casing a. The guide e need notbe a complete tubeor cylinder, for its bottom segment may be cut away asseen in Figure 3, the longitudinal edges thus formed being attached tosupporting bars or blocks e on the casing a. At the rear end, thetubular guide e may be flared, as at '6 to facilitate entry of a stripinto such guide.

The appliance is made ready for use and is operated in the followingmanner: The wick 0 having been adjusted to protrude to a suitableextent, as seen in Figure 1, the bagh is charged withwater. This may bedone either by removing the plug 1 or by forcing water past the springloaded valve-m. The valve rod yjs then moved endwise so as to uncoverthe ports I*, whereupon water passes from the bag it thrOughthe ports fand the duct 1 into the-nozzle head '19. This Water is absorbed by thecotton wool and the wickc in the nozzle head b and when the wick c issufficiently wet, thevalve rod g may be released soas to cut offtheports and seat itself to close the duct F. -A gummed paper strip(indicated by chain line) is then inserted .at the flared end e of theguide e and passed through the latter and, upon emerging at the oppositeend, is drawn forwards and led beneath the rollers 1 r To aflix thestrip to a package, the ap pliance is grasped by a hand gripping theguide e and-the cylindrical casing a, fingers of the hand beingextendedso asto apply upward pressure against the handle d of the lever d. Suchupward pressure on the handle (1 causes the free end of the lever d tobe depressed so that the roller r presses the strip upon the surface ofthe package to be treated, whilst the roller 1' presses the gummy faceof the strip upon the wet tongue of wick prortuding from the nozzle headb. By nowdrawing the appliance. in the desired direction, the roller 1'presses the Wetted strip .upon the package and owing to the strip beingheld by the roller r, and also by its adhesion when it begins to stickto the. package, it is drawn through the appliance as required. When therequired length has been afiixed, the appliance is held still and tilteda little about the axle of the roller r as fulcrum. This, aided possiblyby a slight twist, produces depression of the blade q and severance ofthe strip at a point a little in advance of the roller 1.

The functioning of the guide 6 will be readily understood from Figures 4to 6, although these figures illustrate a modification wherein the guidee is completely tubular and is mounted upon the top of a cylindricalcasing a instead of surrounding the latter as in Figures 1 to 3. Thisguide e is formed with a flat base which fits into a trough t on thecylindrical casing a such trough being of the kind heretofore used as aflat guide for a strip s. As Will be seen from Figure 6, the strip 3 isbent to an arched formwhilst in the guide e and usually the arch formwill fit the interior of the cylindrical guide, the separation of thestrip from the guide in this figure merely being for the sake ofclearness. Owing to this bending of the strip s, its normal width in theflat state is reduced. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, it will be seenthat when the strip s emerges at the left hand end of the guide e andpasses to the affixing rollers which flatten it, it reacquires itsnormal width in the fiat state as shown. Consequently, resistance isoffered to retraction of the strip 8 through the guide e from left toright and such resistance renders it usually unnecessary to employspecial gripping means designed for preventing withdrawal of the strip.When the strip s'is drawn from a reel or roll which may be some littledistance away, the strip in its passage from the reel to the applianceis liable to become cockled or coiled, as indicated in Figures 4 and 5.This is particularly the case when the appliance is being worked aroundseveral sides of a package, for example. With a fiat guide, andparticularly one having a slot-like entry, there is danger of the stripjamming and tearing when in the; coiled or cockled state but with thecylindrical guide provided by these improvements the strip in anycondition passes easily into and through the guide and then graduallyflattens out as it approaches the affixing rollers. The cylindricalguide 6 of Figures 1 to 3 operates inthesame manner and withpreciselythe same advantages as the cylindrical guidee in Figures 4=-to6. When a strip having a'tacky gummy surface has to be applied, acylindrical guide e' disposed as in Figure 1 might bring the tackysurface too near to the surface of the cylindrical casing-a so thatinterference With the feed of the strip might occur if the two surfacescame into contact. For strips with tack surfaces, therefore, it may bepreferable to mount the cylindrical guide at a greater distance from thecylindrical casing a, as for example in Figures 4 to 6. .7

A further modification consists in longitudinally dividing a guide, suchas the guide e in Figures 1 to 3, and in mounting each divided part one.hinge at one ofthe supports 6 c Figure 3. Thesaid parts would preferablybe made to overlap along their dividing line. when in the operativeposition. With this modification, the two divided parts can be openedout as shown, by turning themlike flaps on their hinge mountings, when anew strip is to be introduced into the appliance. This avoids thepossibly tiresome operation of threading the strip through the narrowguiding space seen in Figure 1, for with the modification the flaps areopened outwards, the strip is readily arched and disposed lengthwiseover the cylindrical casing a, whereupon the flaps are again closed overthe casing to constitute the cylindrical guide 6 hereinbefore described.

I claim: Y

1. Portable hand device for affixing adhesive strip comprising stripafiixing means adapted for flattening the strip'upon a surface, andcurved guide means adapted for imparting a transverse curvature to thestrip during its passage through said guide means and towards saidaffixing means, said guide means terminating at a distance from saidaffixing means to permit the strip to flatten out transversely as itapproaches the aflixing means.

2. Portable hand device for aifixing adhesive strip comprising stripaffixing means adapted for flattening the strip upon a surface, andcylindrical guide means adapted for imparting a transverse curvature tothe strip during its passage through said guide means and towards saidaffixing means, said cylindrical guide means terminating at a distancefrom said aflixing means to permit the strip to flatten out transverselyas it approaches the affixing means.

3. Portable hand device for affixing adhesive strip comprising stripaffixing means, a hand grip part supporting said affixing means, and acylindrical guide mounted on said hand grip part, said guide part beingadapted for imparting a transverse curvature to the strip during'itspassage through said guide and towards said affixing means and beingterminated at a distance from said affixing means to permit the strip toflatten out transversely as it approaches the aflixing means.

4. Portable hand device for afiixing adhesive strip comprising stripaffixing means, a cylindrical hand grip part supporting said means, anda cylindrical guide disposed around said hand grip part and adapted forimparting a transverse curvature to the strip during its passage throughsaid guide and towards said afiixing means, said cylindrical guideterminating at a distance from said afiixing means to permit the stripto flatten out transversely as it approaches the affixing means. i i V5. Appliance for afiixing adhesive strip comprising a nozzle device, awick housed within said nozzle device and extended through the orificethereof, strip-pressing means, a lever mounted on said nozzle device andsupporting said strippressing means, a liquid reservoir formed to serveas a hand-grip, coupling means detachably connecting said reservoir withsaid nozzle device and formed with an intercommunicating water duct, andstrip-guiding means mounted on said reservoir.

6. Appliance for aflixing adhesive strip comprising a nozzle device, awick housed within said nozzle device and extended through the orificethereof, a liquid reservoir formed to serve as a hand grip, couplingmeans detachably connecting said reservoir with said nozzle device andformed with an intercommunicating water duct, strip guiding meansmounted on said reservoir, a two-armed lever pivotally mounted on saidnozzle device and having one of its arms extended as a handle beneathsaid reservoir, and strip presssing means mounted on the other arm ofsaid lever so as to be operative just beyond the orifice of said nozzledevice.

'7. Appliance for affixing adhesive strip comprising a nozzle device, awick housed within said nozzle device and extended through the orificethereof, a casing formed to serve as a hand grip, coupling meansdetachably connecting said casing with said nozzle device and formedwith an intercommunicating water duct, a Water bag fixed WatertightlyWithin said casing, self-closing valve means controlling admission tosaid water bag, strip guiding means mounted on said casing, a two-armedlever pivotally mounted on said nozzle device'and having one of its armsextended as a handle beneath said casing, and strip pressing meansmounted on the other arm of said lever so as to be operative just beyondthe orifice of said nozzle device.

8. Appliance for affixing adhesive strip comprising a nozzle device, awick housed within said nozzle device and extended through the orificethereof, a cylindrical reservoir adapted to serve as a hand grip,coupling means detachably connecting said reservoir with said nozzledevice and formed axially with an intercommunicating water duct, anaxial self-closing valve'normally closing the passage through said duct,a pull rod operative for opening said valve, strip guiding means mountedon said reservoir, a two armed lever pivotally mounted on said nozzlehead and having one of its arms extended as a handle beneath saidreservoir, and strip pressing means mounted on the other arm of saidlever so as to be operative just beyond the orifice of said nozzledevice.

9. Appliance for affixing adhesive strip comprising a nozzle device, awick housed within said nozzle device and extended through the orificethereof, a liquid reservoir formed to serve as a hand grip, couplingmeans detachably connecting said reservoir with said nozzle device andformed with an intercommunicating water duct, strip guiding meansmounted on said reservoir, a two-armed lever pivotally mounted on saidnozzle device and having one of its arms extended as a handle beneathsaid reservoir, strip pressing

